Mammograms with 2-D technology have been criticized for being inaccurate, having sometimes produced false positives that suggest a woman has cancer when she actually does not. That can lead to unnecessary biopsies and over-diagnosis of cancer.

For Hoeft, she believes 3-D technology saved her life.

"Life is short," she said. "My life’s going to be long and full."

Dr. Bruce's advice: Further studies are needed to determine who can benefit the most from the 3-D technology. However, if you undergo a 2-D mammogram that looks suspicious or just isn’t clear, ask your doctor to add 3-D tests. Finding out if you have breast cancer early on could potentially save your life.